Sparano: Special-teams players have 'better understanding' this year

December 1, 2011

Transcript of Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano's press conference on Thursday, as provided by the team:

On the biggest difference in special teams this year resulting in better coverage: “I just think better understanding of what we’re asking them to do. I think that more experience. I think a lot of the players on the unit are young players…Nolan Carroll, Reshad Jones, Jimmy Wilson, the list is long… Julius Pruitt. A lot of young players running down the field right now and I think those guys have just gotten better…just done a good job of getting better. They are conscientious. They work hard at it and doing a nice job, Darren (Rizzi) and Dave (Fipp) of not asking them to do a whole lot and coaching the fundamental part of it.”

On if Brian Daboll’s energy had an effect on the offense this year: “Yes. I think that the offense has responded very well to that.”

On what he has seen from Vontae Davis since returning: “First of all I think he is a lot more healthy right now. I think he’s moving around a lot better, credit to Kevin O’Neill and the guys. I think that he’s playing with a lot more awareness right now. I think he has done a good job mentally. I think when a guy gets injured and he spends some time out it can be easy mentally to check out and only worry about the injury and spend time doing that. And I think with Vontae he has made sure that he’s done a good job with his coaches and keeping up on things that we’re doing. He really didn’t miss a beat when we put him back in there.”

On the relationship Matt Moore and Brian Daboll have developed over the season: “A very good one. I think Matt Moore would tell you that. In fact I’m pretty sure he probably has. I think you probably asked me a question you know the answer to that way. He’s already said that. I think they have a tremendous relationship. I believe Matt’s quote yesterday was he was never more prepared going into ball games and I think that’s pretty accurate. I think Brian Daboll is probably one of the brightest football guys I’ve ever been around particularly offensively because he sees it from the other side under Bill Belichick. I think how you attack coverage’s and the way you can break that down for a quarterback who isn’t your starter. In other words he didn’t come in here as a starter and didn’t get those reps I think is valuable. I think he’s done that well.”

On if a punter like Shane Lechler alter decision-making during the game: “No I don’t think so. But I think you got two pretty good punters out there knocking the ball around and I think field position is going to have a lot to do with it, with the football game. I do think, like I said before I think our punter is a weapon. I believe that and I’m sure they believe their punter is a weapon, they should. I think that when you’re going in and you’re in those areas of the field those guys can knock them down there pretty well or when they can kick you out of bad field position I think that those things are pretty valuable. Does it change how you’re calling the game? No, not necessarily. I think though that it does effect maybe what you’re going to do from a defensive standpoint. In other words you can be backed up, you could be in some of those situations that way. It makes you think a little bit from a coaching standpoint I think more than anything else but not necessarily how you’re calling the game offensively or defensively.”

On what Michael Bush brings to the Raiders offense: “I mean big, strong, physical, can finish. I think the guy is getting better and better every game he plays. They’re a little different shade, different running the football than (Darren) McFadden, little different style runner. But they’ve done a nice job adapting and adjusting to him. Obviously if you get both those guys back there that’s a tall duty. Our guys are prepared. They had a good week of practice.”

On if he is optimistic getting Vernon Carey back: “Yeah, well we will take it day-by-day here and see where we are. Vernon is getting around okay at this particular second. Obviously he didn’t practice today so we’ll see where we go.”